The Forgotten Champions Av Paul Mcparlan

The Forgotten Champions recounts Everton's remarkable 1986/87 title win - a feat that tested Howard Kendall's managerial skills to the limit. The previous season, the club were runners-up to rivals Liverpool in the league and FA Cup. Top scorer Gary Lineker left for Barcelona with no replacement in sight and the arrival of several inexperienced players worried the fans. An injury crisis deprived Kendall of key stars such as Neville Southall and Peter Reid, forcing him to field a makeshift team at the start of the season. Optimism was in short supply at Goodison as by November the team were in eighth place and struggling to stay in contention. Further injuries to Graeme Sharp and Kevin Sheedy threatened to derail Everton's title bid, but the astute purchase of Wayne Clarke proved crucial as the Toffees strung together a winning sequence. Against all odds, a patchwork, injury-ravaged Everton were crowned league champions, ahead of Liverpool. It was a magnificent achievement. To date, it is the club's last ever title.